Indoor plants are an essential part for interior design, they can be mood boosting, and help to bring indoor spaces to life. Incorporating indoor plants within homes and businesses is popular because they can be relatively easy to care for, can provide health benefits, and can be used to change up indoor decor themes through the different seasons.
What are indoor plants?
Indoor plants are plants that grow indoors. There are a variety of tropical or semi-tropical plants, that thrive in indoor environments and are often epiphytes, succulents or cacti. Check out our 5 Hard-To-Kill Office Plants.
How do you plant indoor plants?
Most of the time, indoor plants can be purchased already in containers, so there is no need to plant them but if your plant gets too big, then you will need to replant it into a larger container. Also, if you want to grow bulbs indoors, then you will need to plant the bulbs in an appropriate container and use a suitable growing medium, such as indoor plant compost.
How much light do indoor plants need?
Succulents and cacti need continuous, daily sunlight. Plants with foliage need roughly eight hours of light per day. The amount of light depends on the type of plants you are growing, so we suggest doing research on specific plants to see which ones would work best for you.
What qualities make for a good indoor plant?
There are several qualities to look for when selecting an indoor plant.
- A good root system – This is incredibly important when choosing a plant. It’s not practical to pull a plant out of its pot to check its roots but if it is a small plant then this can be done. Healthy roots are typically thick and light in colour.
- Foliage – Here’s a good rule of thumb when it comes to plant foliage: if you can’t see through it, the foliage is thick enough.
- Check for plant disease – Some signs of a plant with pests or disease are: white dots, sticky residue on the leaves and a bad odour.
Which indoor plants require low light?
Indoor plants that need little light could be a good option for locations with low levels of natural light. Some plants that require low light are:
- Philodendron – A very common indoor plant that rarely attracts pests. It’s a hearty plant that is adaptable to various environments.
- Pothos or Devil’s Ivy – A plant with colourful and vibrant leaves. This plant does great in a variety of environments, thriving in low light or in bright, indirect light.
- Dracaena – This is another popular indoor plant with long green leaves. This is one indoor plant you will want to prune if its foliage gets too long.
- Peace Lily – This plant thrives best when the soil is moist, but not overwatered. If you want flowers to appear on your peace lily plant, move your plant to a darker room.
Check out our Top 10 Best Plants for your Desk at Work for more inspiration.
Which indoor plants are the easiest to take care of?
Below is a list of indoor plants that are easy to take care of:
- Sansevieria
- Philodendron
- Most succulents
- Pothos
- ZZ plant
Which plants are considered indoor plants?
Plants that require a low amount of light and water to thrive are typically known as indoor plants. Ambius considers these plants as examples of common indoor plants:
- Dracaena
- Ficus
- Sansevieria
- Scindapsus
Other examples common indoor plants are:
- Aglaonema
- Ferns
- Palms
- Spathiphyllum
Check out our Top 10 Best Plants for your Desk at Work for more inspiration.
How do you re-pot indoor plants?
Unless your indoor plant has become too large for the pot it is in, you typically don’t need to re-pot indoor plants.
How do you care for indoor plants?
Here are some tips that will help you care for indoor plants:
- Keep the soil moist but not saturated, it’s important to make sure soil is not too wet nor too dry
- Make sure the plant pot has drainage holes in the bottom of the pot, so your plant is not left standing in sodden soil
- Place your plant near a light source, whether it’s natural or artificial
- Determine what species of plant you have so you can more accurately care for it
How do you prune indoor plants?
If you have no reason to prune plants, don’t do it. But, if you notice your plant getting tall and spindly, then we recommend you prune them.
What are some of the common reasons indoor plants die?
Some of the most common reasons plants die are:
- Overwatering or underwatering
- Light Levels (either not enough light or too much light)
- Neglect
How long do indoor plants typically live?
On average, indoor house plants last 2-5 years. After that, plants stop thriving and it’s best to invest in another plant.
Which interior plants improve air quality the most?
All plants can act as air purifiers but these plants are more beneficial than others.
- Red-Edged Dracaena Weeping Fig
- Bamboo Palm
More information on plants that improve air quality.
How do indoor plants affect people’s mood?
People are often surprised at how beneficial indoor plants are. Not only do plants clean the air, but they also reduce noise levels and stress in the workplace. More information on the benefits of indoor plants.
Are indoor plants expensive?
Indoor plants are generally very affordable, and the smaller the plant, the less expensive it will be.
But remember that just because a plant is large and sold for a low price it doesn’t mean you are getting the best deal or a healthy plant. We recommend doing some research prior to buying or speaking with a salesperson at a garden centre.
Which indoor plants work well for small living spaces?
Here is a list of small plants great for smaller spaces.
- Philidrens
- Succulents, if you have a good light source
- Hedra helix
- Devil’s Ivy
What is the best kind of indoor plant fertiliser to use?
Go to a garden centre and look for a fertiliser with “indoor plant” on the label. If you’re getting fertiliser for blooming plants, look for a fertiliser labelled with the type of plant (orchids, for example) – but if it is unclear which one you should pick, it’s fine to use fertiliser for houseplants.
How do I get rid of bugs on indoor plants?
Bugs on your indoor plants can be really annoying! If you spot pests, go to a garden centre and purchase an insecticidal soap, which usually comes in a spray bottle. When you notice bugs, spray the entire plant – the undersides and tops of the leaves as well as the stem. Next, wait about two weeks and repeat the spraying. Then, wait two more weeks and spray again.
You will want to spray three times because the soap usually will not eliminate eggs, which could hatch. If your plant is dealing with a severe infestation and you are unable to eradicate the pests, throw out the plant to stop the infestation spreading to other plants. .
How do I know when to water my indoor plant?
Over-watering is a common mistake so here are some ways to see if it’s time to water or not:
- Soil probe – This probe will draw out soil, which will help you understand how dry the soil is below the surface.
- Moisture meter – This tool tells you, on a scale, how dry the soil is.
- Lifting the plant up – Heaviness signifies the plant has enough water, but lightness signifies the plant is dry.
- Wilting – Wilting typically happens because the plant is not getting sufficient water.
- Tipping – If the leaf edges begin browning and are crispy to the touch, the plant very likely needs water. If the leaf edges are becoming brown but feel mushy, the plant has likely gotten too much water.
- Yellow leaves – Yellow leaves may also signify that a plant has too much or too little water, but this is not always the case.
Indoor Plant Design Specialists
Do you want to add indoor plants to your workspace decor but aren’t sure where to start? Contact Ambius today and we can talk through your indoor plant requirements.
